Heat transport apparatus

Abstract

A heat transport apparatus, comprises an absorbator ( 204 ), a desorbator ( 202 ), a compressor ( 206 ), a liquid pump ( 212 ), a heat exchanger ( 216 ), a restriction element ( 122 ) and a two-component refrigerant ( 203′, 205′ ), i.e. a liquid and a gas absorbed in the liquid. The characteristic feature is that the refrigerant comprises a lubricant. In a second aspect the invention relates to a two-component refrigerant suitable for use in a heat pump of the absorption-compression type, comprising a lubricant as a liquid component, and a gaseous component absorbable in the lubricant.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A heat transport apparatus, comprising an absorbator ( 204 ), a desorbator ( 202 ), a compressor ( 206 ), a liquid pump ( 212 ), a heat exchanger ( 216 ), a restriction means ( 122 ) and a two-component gas/liquid refrigerant, 
       wherein the compressor ( 206 ) is integrated within the desorbator ( 202 ), and  
       the refrigerant comprises a lubricant.  
     
     
       2. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises a gas absorbed in the liquid. 
     
     
       3. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  2 , wherein said liquid component comprises compounds selected from the group of compounds consisting of hydrocarbons having C 9 -C 17  carbon chains, hydrocarbons having a boiling point in the range 180° C.-300° C., lubricating oils with low viscosity, polyalphaolefins, polyglycols, silicone oils and synthetic esters, long chain polyalcohols, alkylaminoesters, aliphatic naphtha or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  3 , wherein the lubricant comprises diesel fuel. 
     
     
       5. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  3 , wherein said hydrocarbon comprises iso-butane or liquefied petroleum gas. 
     
     
       6. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  2 , wherein the gaseous component is selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, an ether, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       7. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  2 , wherein said ether is ethyl ether. 
     
     
       8. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the restricting means ( 122 ) and the pump ( 112 ) are integrated in the desorbator ( 202 ). 
     
     
       9. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , further comprising a hydraulic motor ( 500 ) connected to the shaft ( 502 ) of the liquid pump ( 212 ), and arranged to conduct liquid from the absorbator via a conduit ( 504 ), bypassing said restriction means ( 222 ). 
     
     
       10. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , comprising surface enlargement means ( 326 ) provided inside the absorbator ( 204 ). 
     
     
       11. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the one of the absorbator and the desorbator is mounted inside a building, and the other is mounted on the outside of said building. 
     
     
       12. The heat transport apparatus of claim  1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a heat pump. 
     
     
       13. The heat transport apparatus of claim  1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a cooling apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , further comprising means for switching between a heating and a cooling mode of operation. 
     
     
       15. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the compressor is at least partially immersed in the refrigerant. 
     
     
       16. The heat transport apparatus as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the restricting means and the pump are immersed in the refrigerant to improve lubrication. 
     
     
       17. A two-component gas/liquid refrigerant suitable for use in a heat transport apparatus of the absorption-compression type, comprising a lubricant as a liquid component, and a gaseous component absorbable in said lubricant. 
     
     
       18. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  17 , wherein the lubricant is selected from the group of compounds consisting of hydrocarbons having C 9 -C 17  carbon chains, hydrocarbons having a boiling point in the range 180° C.-300° C., lubricating oils with low viscosity, polyalphaolefins, polyglycols, silicone oils and synthetic esters, long chain polyalcohols, alkylaminoesters, aliphatic naphtha or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       19. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  18 , wherein the lubricant has a viscosity of 1-40 mm 2 /s. 
     
     
       20. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  19 , wherein the lubricant has a viscosity of 1.5-20 mm 2 /s. 
     
     
       21. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  20 , wherein the lubricant has a viscosity of 2-10 mm 2 /s. 
     
     
       22. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  17  wherein liquid component comprises diesel fuel. 
     
     
       23. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  17 , wherein the gaseous component comprises a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
       24. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  23 , wherein the hydrocarbon has 1-5 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       25. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  17 , wherein said hydrocarbon comprises iso-butane. 
     
     
       26. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  17 , wherein said gaseous component comprises an ether. 
     
     
       27. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  26 , wherein the ether is ethyl ether. 
     
     
       28. The refrigerant as claimed in claim  17 , wherein said gaseous component comprises liquefied petroleum gas. 
     
     
       29. A method of transporting heat from a low temperature and a low pressure to a high temperature and high pressure, comprising: 
       a) providing a two-component refrigerant comprising a lubricant as a liquid component, and a gaseous component absorbable in said lubricant;  
       b) pumping the gaseous component of said refrigerant from a desorbator at low pressure and low temperature to an absorbator at high pressure and high temperature by using a compressor means, whereby heat is released in the absorbator; and  
       c) returning the liquid component from said absorbator to said desorbator.  
     
     
       30. The method of claim  29 , wherein said lubricant is selected from the group of compounds consisting of hydrocarbons having C 9 -C 17  carbon chains, hydrocarbons having a boiling point in the range 180° C.-300° C., lubricating oils with low viscosity, polyalphaolefins, polyglycols, silicone oils and synthetic esters, long chain polyalcohols, alkylaminoesters, aliphatic naphtha or mixtures thereof.